The Thin Blue Line, critically acclaimed Errol Morris documentary that brought a prisoner's release

The Thin Blue Line
Director: Errol Morris

The Thin Blue Line was not nominated for an Oscar, despite being named film of the year - either feature or documentary - in four polls of US critics the year that it was released.

However, Morris could console himself with the fact that his documentary led to the release of Randall Adams 12 years into a life term after his wrongful conviction for murdering a Texas policeman. Not a bad second prize.

Morris was planning a documentary about Dallas' "Dr Death", a psychologist who assessed criminals to see if they should be executed to prevent further violent crimes, and who invariably said yes.

Through him, Morris met Adams, who was hours away from the electric chair before his sentence was commuted to life on a technicality.

Through interviews with key players and staged re-enactments of the traffic stop according to whose version of events is heard, Morris presents a tale of miscarried justice so obvious as to be almost absurd.